Light bulb with 20-year life unveiled in US on Earth Day
二十年壽命的燈泡於地球日在美推出

This handout image provided on April 22 by Dutch electronics giant Philips shows a prize-winning, super energy saving LED bulb from Philips.這張四月二十二日由荷蘭電子巨擘飛利浦提供的照片，是其生產的得獎超節能LED燈泡。

Photo: AFP照片：法新社

A prize-winning, super energy saving LED bulb from Dutch electronics giant Philips, said to last over 20 years, went on sale online and in stores on April 22 to coincide with Earth Day.

The bulb that won the 2011 US Department of Energy’s “Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize,” was available from retailers for US$50 (about NT$1,500), and the company said it was planning discounts to bring the cost down to as little as US$25 to US$30.

The 10-watt light bulb was deemed an efficient alternative to the standard 60-watt incandescent bulb, and when used three hours a day, boasted an impressive 27.4 years maximum life span, the company said.

For consumers attentive to cost, Philips said the price tag was easily offset by energy savings of US$165 over its lifetime.

“Because the new bulb is 83 percent more energy efficient than the standard 60-watt incandescent [bulb], consumers can now experience new savings for their pocketbooks,” Philips’ North America executive Ed Crawford said.

International Earth Day, now in its 42nd year, was celebrated by environmentalists on Sunday, seeking to bring attention to climate change and pollution, and highlight ways to save energy.